Direction on implementing services affected by the market reform provisions of the Affordable Care Act is provided in FAQs jointly issued by the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury. The FAQs directly address the following services: Lactation counseling and equipment (Q 1-5) Non-grandfathered (NGF) health plans must cover lactation … Continued
A proposed rule to amend the regulations implementing Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) as they relate to employer wellness programs that are part of group health plans was issued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in October 2015. While employers are not required to comply with the proposed rule, … Continued
The IRS encourages employers of all sizes to periodically review a new resource called ACA Information Center for Applicable Large Employers. The webpage features information regarding how to determine if you are Applicable Large Employer, Q/As for Form 1094-C and 1095-C , the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions (Play or Pay), and much more. While most … Continued
President Obama signed an Executive Order requiring federal contractors to offer their employees up to seven paid sick days per year, according to a fact sheet released by the White House Office of the Press Secretary on September 7, 2015. The Executive Order provides people working on federal contracts with a minimum of one hour … Continued
The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Young v. UPS has prompted the EEOC to announce an update to its Enforcement Guide on Pregnancy Discrimination and Related Issues (“Enforcement Guidance”). In Young v. UPS, the Court interpreted a new standard for claims brought under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (“PDA”), or when a plaintiff claims that she … Continued
While it’s true that age gaps between spouses and different retirement times can complicate your coverage options, we’re going break it down step-by-step so you know your benefit options before Medicare Open Enrollment starts in October. Henderson Brothers is offering two evening seminars geared towards our clients and any of their employees who are close … Continued
States cannot ban same-sex marriage, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision Friday morning. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy’s majority opinion firmly stresses marriage, as well as benefits that come with marriage, as rights guaranteed to gay and lesbian couples by the Constitution. “The right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty … Continued
A wellness program’s compliance with standards imposed by HIPAA does not mean that program is compliant with Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On April 16, the EEOC released a proposed rule and additional guidance in its first real attempt to interpret the ADA in a manner that reflects its mission of … Continued
Final versions of IRS Forms 1094 and 1095, which are to be used by health plan issuers and employers to fulfill reporting obligations under Code §§ 6055 and 6056, were released by the IRS in February. The agency will use the benefit and participant information reported in these forms to administer the ACA employer and … Continued
Clarification on how the ACA annual cost-sharing limitation affects benefits offered under a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) has been released by the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). This official interpretation of the ACA’s annual cost-sharing limitation effectively embeds an individual out-of-pocket limit for family coverage. The embedded annual limit, effective with non-grandfathered policy … Continued